SF423 - Daniel
SF423
Daniel
GOD'S PATTERN FOR THE FUTURE
Table of Contents
Lesson One "Prophecy In Panorama - God's Overall Scheme" Page 2
Lesson Two "Prophecy In Panorama - Daniel's Specific Scope" Page 6
Lesson Three "Daniel And His Dilemma" Page 10
Lesson Four "Daniel And His Decision" Page 14
Lesson Five "A King On The Couch" Page 19
Lesson Six "A View From The Top" Page 23
*The major source for this study was Chuck Swindoll's Study Guide by the same title.
!! Prophecy in Panorama
Matthew 24:5-8
INTRODUCTION
Prophecy Is Important
1/4 books in the Bible are prophetic in nature.
1/5 of the content of Scripture was predictive at the time of its writing.
"I do not believe that one can have a full-orbed view of the Bible or be a well-rounded student of Scripture without a knowledge of prophecy." J. Vernon McGee
Prophecy Is Intriguing
Lack of balance among students of prophecy.
Wide spread growth of fortune-tellers and mediums.
Two Great Books Of Prophecy
Daniel - focuses on the Gentiles
Revelation - focuses on the nation of Israel
1A. GOD'S OVERALL SCHEME
1B. The Law (Exodus 19-31)
1C. The purpose of the law
To reveal man's sinfulness
To expose the awfulness of sin
To reveal the holiness of God
To restrain the sinner and bring him to Christ
To regulate society
2C. Israel's failure in keeping the law
Led to the division into two kingdoms (931 BC)
Israel overthrow by Assyria (722 BC)
Judah destroyed by Babylon (605 BC)
Deliverance (530 BC)
400 years of Silence
Birth announcements of John and Jesus
2B. The Church
Not foreseen by the OT saints.
Revealed primarily by Paul (Eph. 2:3-11)
Initiated in power at Pentecost (Acts 2)
Everyone who accepts Christ becomes part of God's family - same as Israel. (Gal. 3:28-29; Eph 3:6)
3B. The Rapture
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."
1 Corinthians 15:50-53 ...We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet....
4B. The Great Tribulation
The Beast - Dominant political leader (Revelation 13:1-8)
The False Prophet - Religious leader/right hand man (Rev 13:11-17)
[Also called "the beast"]
This will be a time of Judgement on sin.
Those who trust Christ will suffer extreme persecution.
Last seven years and will end with the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 6-18)
5B. The Second Coming (Advent)
When the armies of the world gather for the Battle of Armageddon
Jesus will descend from Heaven
Revelation 19:11 "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war."
Revelation 19:13 "He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God."
His saints will accompany Him
Revelation 19:14 "The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean."
He will conquer the Beast and the False Prophet
Revelation 19:20 "But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur."
Then He will destroy those who sided with the Beast
Revelation 19:21 "The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh."
He will bind Satan for a thousand years
Revelation 20:1-3 "And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time."
6B. The Millennial Kingdom
Only believers will enter this perfect environment
Satan will be freed and will deceive some of those born during this time.
Revelation 20:7-9 "When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth--Gog and Magog--to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. ...."
The Lord will destroy these unbelievers and cast Satan into the Lake of Fire
Revelation 20:9-10 "...But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
The Great White Throne Judgement
Revelation 20:11-15 "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
7B. The New Creation
God will create a new universe
2 Peter 3:13 "But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."
Revelation 21:1 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea."
God will remove all pain and sorrow
Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.""
2A. DANIEL'S SPECIFIC SCOPE
1B. A Man Of Purpose
Daniel = God will judge
Exile taken in the first group (605 BC)
Three exiles - 605; 597-10,000; 586- 50,000
Teenager ~15 years old
Son of David - Tribe of Judah; godly family
2B. A Man Of Prayer (2;17-23; 6:10; 9:3-19; 10)
3B. A Man Of Prophecy
1C. The captivity
Nebuchadnezzer - 605BC Battle of Carchemish
Practice of indoctrination
The City of Babylon (see drawing)
The city itself, roughly rectangular, sat astride the Euphrates. The wall 11 miles long and 85 feet thick, was protected by a moat. There were forty-three temples in the city. The population was around 500 thousand.
2C. The controversy
Liberals try to discredit Daniel - say it was written during Intertestamental Period
No supernatural prophecy
Jesus recognized it (Mat 24:15; Mark 13:14)
3C. The outline
The Ministry of Daniel in Babylon (1-6)
The Prophecy of Daniel in Babylon (7-17)
4C. The prophecy
The rise of Gentile supremacy
The rebuilding of Jerusalem
The coming and death of the Messiah
The Great Tribulation
The Millennial Kingdom
APPLICATION
Daniel is important to every Christian.
It is both practical and prophetic.
The same God who revealed the future to Daniel is at work today in our lives.
Only those who trust Christ can take hope in the message of Daniel.
Prophecy in Panorama
Matthew 24:5-8
INTRODUCTION
Prophecy Is Important
Prophecy Is Intriguing
Two Great Books Of Prophecy
1A. GOD'S OVERALL SCHEME
1B. The Law (Exodus 19-31)
2B. The Church
3B. The Rapture
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
1 Corinthians 15:50-53
4B. The Great Tribulation
5B. The Second Coming (Advent)
6B. The Millennial Kingdom
7B. The New Creation
2A. DANIEL'S SPECIFIC SCOPE
1B. A Man Of Purpose
2B. A Man Of Prayer (2;17-23; 6:10; 9:3-19; 10)
3B. A Man Of Prophecy
1C. The captivity
2C. The controversy
3C. The outline
4C. The prophecy
APPLICATION
Daniel is important to every Christian.
It is both practical and prophetic.
The same God who revealed the future to Daniel is at work today in our lives.
Only those who trust Christ can take hope in the message of Daniel.
Daniel And His Dilemnia
Daniel 1:1-7
INTRODUCTION
Have you ever felt like you were being held captive by the world and it's ungodly standards and system?
Have you thought that you were all alone in your Christian walk and testimony?
The question is how are we to not only cope but how are we to conquer in this situation?
1A. THE CAPTIVITY (V.1,2a)
1B. Sovereign Right of God
Lord = "adonia"; owner/ruler
2B. Sovereign Rule of God
God was in control of Nebuchadnezzar.
3B. Sovereign Judgement of God
For the sins of the people
2 Kings 20:17-18 "The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. 18 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, that will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.""
Isaiah 39:5-7 "Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD Almighty: 6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. 7 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.""
2A. THE CAPTIVES (v. 2-4b)
1B. God's Precious Possessions (v. 2)
Pictured in the treasures from the temple.
2B. God's Prize People (v. 3-4b)
1C. Social Status (v.3)
Romans 8:17 "Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
2C. Physical Prowess (v.4a)
1 Corinthians 6:19 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;"
Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
3C. Academic Aptitude (v.4a)
-possessed an ability to learn
-demonstrated a keen awareness
-possessed a quick mind.
3A. THE CRISIS (v.4c-7)
1B. Authority Crisis (v.4c)
1C. Satan will attack our minds first.
Matthew 22:37 "Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'"
Romans 8:7 "the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so."
2C. Satan will cause us to questions our source of authority
2B. Moral Crisis (v.5)
1C. Satan will treat you royally to begin with.
Illustration: "The Prodigal Son"
2C. Satan wants to change our appetites
He wants us to crave the things of the world rather than the things of God
3B. Identity Crisis (vv.6,7)
Satan wants to change your identity.
Daniel = God is my judge.
Belteshazzar = Bel will protect his life.
Hananiah = God is gracious.
Shadrach = Command of Aku (moon god).
Mishael = Who is what God is.
Meshach = Who is what Aku is.
Azariah = Yahweh has helped
Abednego = Servant of Nebo
APPLICATION
The world is seeking to capture you.
Satan is subtle.
He wants the best that God has.
He will cause you to forget who you are.
Daniel And His Dilemnia
Daniel 1:1-7
INTRODUCTION
1A. THE CAPTIVITY (V.1,2a)
1B. Sovereign Right of God
2B. Sovereign Rule of God
3B. Sovereign Judgement of God
2A. THE CAPTIVES (v. 2-4b)
1B. God's Precious Possessions (v. 2)
2B. God's Prize People (v. 3-4b)
3A. THE CRISIS (v.4c-7)
1B. Authority Crisis (v.4c)
2B. Moral Crisis (v.5)
3B. Identity Crisis (vv.6,7)
APPLICATION
Daniel And His Decision
Daniel 1:8-21
INTRODUCTION:
We find Daniel and his three friends in the midst of a foreign land, captives in a cruel kings court. They are faced with a problem. They have been chosen to be trained (brainwashed) to be officials in the King's administration.
Part of their training includes a special diet that includes food and drink offered to the idols of Babylon.
Therefore, Daniel and his friends were faced with a life changing, do or die decision. Would they go against all they had been taught as children and submit to the peer pressure, cultural pressure, social pressure, and King's pressure.
You will find that by the time most of you are 20 you will have made the majority of your life shaping decisions. Statistics say that the majority of Christians are saved before they are 20. You will decide on careers, mates, friends, habits, and churches all while you are in your teens. These are critical days you must make carefully and prayerfully each of life's decisions. Because the decision you make today you will live with for the rest of your life.
It is by making the right kind of decisions that we can conquer captivity. Let's see how Daniel did this.
1A. CONCRETE CONVICTIONS (v.8-10)
1B. Based on God's Word
Unclean food: Not prepared according to the Mosaic law
Ungodly food: Offered to idols.
Unholy drink: Fermented wine
Proverbs 20:1 "Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise."
Proverbs 23:29-32 "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. 31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! 32 In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper."
2B. Believed in Daniel's Heart (v.8a)
Proverbs 4:23 "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
Resolved = This decision came from the depth of Daniel's soul. - "Laid upon his heart
3B. Blessed by God's Hand (v.9-10)
"Favor" = loving kindness
"Sympathy" = tender, soft, compassion.
2A. FEARLESS FAITH (v.11-16)
1B. Proven when Tested (v.11-14)
1 Peter 1:6-7 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
2B. Produces a Testimony (v.15,16)
"Who you serve will eventually show on your face."
3A. GOD'S GRACIOUS GIFTS (v.17-21)
1B. Intellectual Achievements (v.17)
"Knowledge" = science; acquisition of facts
"Understanding" = seeing things from God's pt. of view
2B. Spiritual Insights (v.17b)
understand visions and dreams
Psalms 119:97-99 "Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. 98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes."
3B. Social Standing (v.18-20)
4B. Personal Success (v.21)
Ties in with 1:8
Daniel lived and served God for over 70 years. (605-539)
Cyrus freed the Hebrews - Daniel may have drawn up these papers
APPLICATION
1. Today's decisions will determine tomorrow's directions.
2. Inner conviction can overcome external pressures to compromise.
3. God honoring convictions yield God-given rewards.
Daniel And His Decision
Daniel 1:8-21
INTRODUCTION
1A. CONCRETE CONVICTIONS (v.8-10)
1B. Based on God's Word
2B. Believed in Daniel's Heart (v.8a)
3B. Blessed by God's Hand (v.9-10)
2A. FEARLESS FAITH (v.11-16)
1B. Proven when Tested (v.11-14)
2B. Produces a Testimony (v.15,16)
3A. GOD'S GRACIOUS GIFTS (v.17-21)
1B. Intellectual Achievements (v.17)
2B. Spiritual Insights (v.17b)
3B. Social Standing (v.18-20)
4B. Personal Success (v.21)
APPLICATION
A KING ON THE COUCH
Daniel 2:1-30
INTRODUCTION:
We pick up our study of Daniel with Daniel in place as one of the advisers of the Babylonian kingdom. Daniel and his three friends have managed to remain true to God even in the hostile environment of the pagan land of Babylon.
The year is 603 B.C. Nebuchadnezzer is in his second year as ruler. Daniel and his friends are still in "school" in the University of Babylon.
In this study we will see how the wisdom of God proves to be of much greater value than all of the education and combined wisdom of man. God is certainly not against education. However, He does oppose anything that seeks to dethrone Him. We must be careful not to allow our pseudo-intellectualism to cause us to doubt or disbelieve God's Word. We must remember that only God's Word is eternal.
1A. THE KING AND HIS DISTRESS (v.1-3)
1B. Source of the Worry (v.28)
God
2B. Severity of the Worry (v.1)
"Troubled" = smote itself
"could not sleep"
3B. Solution for the Worry (vv. 2,3)
"magicians" = sacred writers; used charts to answer question
"enchanters" (astrologers) = conjure up the dead
"sorcerers" = practiced black magic; used herbs and charms to tell the future
"astrologers" (Chaldeans) = spokesmen of the group
2A. THE SCHOLARS AND THEIR DILEMMA (vv. 4-13)
1B. Their Ignorance (vv.4-9)
Rooted in Human Pride
2B. Their Arrogance (vv. 10-13)
Refuses to Recognize the Supernatural (vv.10-11)
Results in Ruin (vv.12,13)
3A. THE PROPHET AND HIS DESIRE (vv. 14-30)
1B. His Promise (vv.14-16)
Real character revealed in crisis
Courage is developed in crisis
Preparation for crisis is to come during calmness
2B. His Prayer (vv.17-18)
1C. Confides in Friends (vv.17)
2C. Calls upon God (vv.18)
• "We fail to understand because we fail to call upon God."
• Petition is based on God's mercy
• When crisis comes we will either pray or panic
• Daniel had confidence in God - He went to sleep.
3B. His Praise (vv.19-23)
Praise without prayer is presumption; prayer without praise is ingratitude.
Pray plus praise will tear down strongholds of the devil.
4B. His Proclamation (vv.24-30)
1C. With it's confidence (v.24)
2C. With it's confession (vv.27,28)
"There is a God..."
3C. With it's conclusion (vv.29,30)
APPLICATION
1. God's work is best seen in impossible situations.
2. Our most effective source of stability is prayer.
3. When God works, there is only room for praise, not pride.
A KING ON THE COUCH
Daniel 2:1-30
INTRODUCTION:
1A. THE KING AND HIS DISTRESS (v.1-3)
1B. Source of the Worry (v.28)
2B. Severity of the Worry (v.1)
3B. Solution for the Worry (vv. 2,3)
2A. THE SCHOLARS AND THEIR DILEMMA (vv. 4-13)
1B. Their Ignorance (vv.4-9)
2B. Their Arrogance (vv. 10-13)
3A. THE PROPHET AND HIS DESIRE (vv. 14-30)
1B. His Promise (vv.14-16)
2B. His Prayer (vv.17-18)
3B. His Praise (vv.19-23)
4B. His Proclamation (vv.24-30)
APPLICATION
A View From The Top
Daniel 2:31-49
INTRODUCTION
Daniel 2 it the key to God's entire prophetic program.
This is the ABC for prophecy and the book of Revelation is the XYZ.
We cannot get the XYZ until we understand the ABCs.
1A. PROPHETIC TRUTH (2:31-45)
1B. The Image Described (vv.31-35)
1C. The dimensions of the image
• Size: ~90 foot
• Brightness: metals "dazzling"
• Frightening: "awesome"
2C. The deterioration of the image (2:39)
"inferior" = to move downward
3C. The decline of the image
• Decline in value
• Decline in weight
• Everything goes down not up.
2B. The Image Discussed (2:36-45)
1C. Golden Head: Babylonian Kingdom (vv.36-38)
• "City of Gold"
• Lasted for 66 years
2C. Silver Chest and Arms: Medo-Persian Kingdom (v.39a)
Daniel 5:28 "Peres : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.""
• Inferior in authority
• 208 years
3C. Bronze Belly and Thighs: Grecian Kingdom (v.39b)
• First to use Bronze\Brass armor
• Alexander the Great
• 185 years
4C. Iron Legs: Roman Kingdom (vv. 40-41)
Strongest and largest of all.
Fell from within
• Military = iron
• Moral decay = clay
• 500 years
GAP IN HISTORY
5C. Iron/Clay toes: Federation of Nations (vv.42-43)
• Remnant of Roman Empire is still with us.
• Will be existing at the Second Coming.
• Characterized by mixed strength and disunity.
• Iron = autocratic rule
• Clay = people's democracy
European Common Market
6C. The Kingdom of God (vv. 44-45)
Speaks of the earthly rule of Christ
Assures the final victory of Christ
Psalms 2:9 "You will rule them with an iron scepter ; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.""
Speaks of the various roles of Christ
• The supernatural stone (v.45)
• The stumbling stone
• The smitten stone
• The salvation stone (2 Peter 2:7)
• The sovereign stone
3A. PERSONAL TRIUMPH (vv. 46-49)
1B. Respect Given To Daniel (vv.46-47)
1C. Reverence toward Daniel (v.46)
2C. Acknowledgment of Daniel's God (v.47)
2B. Rule Given To Daniel (vv.48-49)
Daniel took care of his prayer partners
After you come to Jesus, the way is always up.
APPLICATION
God is in control of history, both past and future!
We are rapidly approaching the end of human rule as we know it.
We need to invest in eternal, heavenly things.
A View From The Top
INTRODUCTION
1A. PROPHETIC TRUTH (2:31-45)
1B. The Image Described (vv.31-35)
1C. The dimensions of the image
2C. The deterioration of the image (2:39)
3C. The decline of the image
2B. The Image Discussed (2:36-45)
1C. Golden Head: Babylonian Kingdom (vv.36-38)
2C. Silver Chest and Arms: Medo-Persian Kingdom (v.39a)
3C. Bronze Belly and Thighs: Grecian Kingdom (v.39b)
4C. Iron Legs: Roman Kingdom (vv. 40-41)
5C. Iron/Clay toes: Federation of Nations (vv.42-43)
6C. The Kingdom of God (vv. 44-45)
3A. PERSONAL TRIUMPH (vv. 46-49)
1B. Respect Given To Daniel (vv.46-47)
1C. Reverence toward Daniel (v.46)
2C. Acknowledgment of Daniel's God (v.47)
2B. Rule Given To Daniel (vv.48-49)
APPLICATION